Archive for February, 2010

The Cuban railway company, SOLCAR, has introduced cost-saving welding technology designed to enhance the safety of the country’s railroads. While SOLCAR does not give specifics about the new technology, they do state that rail welding operations will take a third of the time it currently take. Beginning in the second half of this year, SOLCAR will receive 12.5m and 25m rail segments and weld them into 300m rail segments. Read more…

Despite the high position of many of the top Los Angeles chefs, many of whom are Filipino and grew up on Filipino food, few traces of Filipino food can be found in the restaurants they work for or own. The private kitchens of these chefs churn out dish after ethnic dish for their families or private company, but diners at the restaurants would find no such dishes. Marvin Gapultos, a Filipino-American food blogger, cites the geography of the Philippines as a factor of the lack of a unifying dish, where “there are 7,000 ways to make [adobo]”. The history of the Philippines offers glimpses into the foreign influences that shape what Filipino cuisine is today: Indonesian and Malaysian cultures brought biko and suman; the Chinese, lumpia and pancit, the Mexicans, tamarind, chiles, and chocolate; and the Americans, hot dogs, spaghetti, and Spam. Read more…

If Filipinos can assimilate into other dominant cultures (Spaniards brought Roman Catholicism and the Latin script; the Americans brought English), why has Filipino food not yet assimilated into mainstream American cuisine?

The global recession does not affect everybody the same way, if at all.

The first Superman comic, “Action Comics No. 1” from June, 1938, sold at the time for a mere $0.10 cents. The recent auction surpassed the previous record price for a comic book of $317,200 in 2009 and featured a similar edition comic book, but in poorer condition. Read more…

What have you done to go the extra mile for your client? Please explain.
One time, a client contacted me on a Monday morning. He wanted to replace the carpet for a wood floor. The problem was that he wanted to have wood flooring with base molding installed and the furniture back in place by Friday. He was waiting for his family to come over for a visit and everything had to be finished by then. Well, this project on a regular work schedule would take a minimum of six days. However, assuming I started on Tuesday, that would only leave me three days to finish the job. I had to work very hard and had to put in thirteen hours days. On Friday morning, just minutes before his family arrived from the airport, I finished, and my client was so happy.

Are you looking to hire in the coming year?
Yes, hiring is always a possibility as “Health is a Choice” expands.

What have you done to go the extra mile for your client? Please explain.
Customers are at the heart of my business. If they don’t get results, I don’t get results. Time is such a valuable gift and I really listen to the needs of my clients. Most of them have been searching for a long time for a healthier lifestyle, so I meet with each client individually to establish a personalized program that best reaches their goals.

What is the niche that makes you stand out above everybody else?
The niche of “Health is a Choice” is personal service with a strong desire to help educate and guide people with their health goals so they can enjoy the most rewarding life. The products and services that I offer vary because I focus on the individual.

What products and/or services do you offer?
Personal services ranging from nutritional counseling diet and/or supplement. A comprehensive QRA exam, which helps identify key organs and gland points on the body to help address core problems. Detoxification therapies such as mud packing to clear energetic meridian clearance. I offer vitamins and herbs tested with the highest quality in mind. Homeopathics, Iridology (iris reading for whole body health), and Vastu (Electromagnetic field remediation).

What kind of promotions do you have?
Promotions include 10% off products for first-time clients. Refer a friend and receive an additional 10% on your next order.

What do you like about working in the Santa Clarita Valley?
I like working in the Santa Clarita Valley because the people are so friendly and I think that, with the services I offer, I would be able to help the community to a healthier and joyful lifestyle.

In terms of your business, what are you looking forward to in the coming year?
I look forward to meeting new people and making a difference in the community.

How did you go about getting your business started?
About 22 years ago, I was diagnosed with Epstein Barr, or chronic fatigue. After searching for relief from the symptoms of low-grade fevers, aches, strange pains, and flu-like symptoms for over three years, I started to look for answers. My search led me to Judy’s door. Judy was such a relief to talk to because I could walk away with information and products that would soon make a difference. Herbs have never been new to me as my grandmother had introduced them to me as a child. As a young, healthy woman, I have never found the need to use them except for maybe menstrual cramps or an occasional upset stomach. With the help of Judy and my research, I soon started to see and feel the difference. I took what I had learned about the intestinal tract, or colon, and went a step further. I knew that most, if not, all of the problems we experience start in this area, so I found the best colon therapist around and made around a hundred appointments with the therapist. For anyone that does not know how this procedure works, it may feel a little bit embarrassing at first, but I guarantee you, it will be the most important date you will ever make. Needless to say, I was cured, and I have been symptom-free for the last 22 years. That’s when I decided to open my company, “Health is a Choice”, and that’s how the business was started.

When you hear about nutrition in the news, the news usually comes from the federal government, and the news is typically never good news. The government references long-established (read: antiquated) baselines for calorie intake or height-to-weight ratios. People view health articles about nutrition as (unsolicited) advice and, thus, almost never takes it. The government and health experts have our best interests in mind when they release statistics about the state of our health. However, we must consider many factors about our health such as family history for pre-existing conditions, current health conditions, and daily lifestyle, among other factors, when deciding what is best about our daily nutrition. As a result, there are countless possibilities regarding the best recommendations, and the government has no time to determine every possibility for each of us.

Eva Clarke

Eva Clarke, owner of “Health is a Choice”, fills in that void. As a nutrition and lifestyle consultant with over 20 years’ experience, she works closely with people and provides personalized services based on their needs with nutritional counseling and detoxification therapy, the cleansing of the body’s internal systems and organs, as some of the services that she offers. The New Year should never be the only time you think about your health, nor should bad news from the latest government study compel you to act. Call or email Eva and make that life change!

What is the niche that makes you stand out above everybody else?
I take the time with my clients in helping them choose the colors, tones, and types of woods that can be used for their floors, giving them the best value for their money. I also take great care in moving the furniture and personal items.

What products and/or services do you offer?
Traditional wood floor installation, sanding and finishing, and hand distressed finishes. We use our extensive experience in working with solid and engineered flooring in any species of wood such as Birch, Maple, Hickory, American Walnut, American Cherry, Santos Mahogany, and bamboo. We provide great service installing wood borders, staircases, wood handrails, base molding, and crown molding and trim.

What kind of promotions do you have?
N/A

What do you like about working in the Santa Clarita Valley?
I like Santa Clarita Valley because it is a great place to raise a family and a great community to build a business. You can see prosperity in our community.

In terms of your business, what are you looking forward to in the coming year?
I would like to show more people my business in the SCV, to be able to make them clients of Flores Hardwood Floors, and grow my business and become a successful company in the area just like so many other businesses have done.

How did you go about getting your business started?
In July 2000, I started working for a flooring company. After the first year, I was promoted to installation crew leader. I soon learned the techniques on how to sand and finish wood floors. It did not take long before the customers started noticing the high quality of work that I was doing. I started doing cost estimates and, before long, I was running the day-to-day operations. Then I thought to myself, “Why don’t I take a chance and start my own business?” And that is how Flores Hardwood Floors started.